Chiangmai Thai restaurant closing in Portsmouth

Wednesday

Sep 30, 2009 at 2:00 AM

PORTSMOUTH — When restaurants and many other businesses are experiencing the bite of an economic downturn, it's good to see a restaurant success story, even if that story is bittersweet for those who love Chiangmai Thai Restaurant on Penhallow Street.

Rachel Forrest

PORTSMOUTH — When restaurants and many other businesses are experiencing the bite of an economic downturn, it's good to see a restaurant success story, even if that story is bittersweet for those who love Chiangmai Thai Restaurant on Penhallow Street.

After 16 years in business, the popular restaurant will close in mid-November. While many will miss the tasty pad Thai, creamy coconut milk Tom Khar Gai and spicy plar goong with shrimp, and the owners will miss their customers, for Ron and Petchara Pradit, it's time to move on.

"We were very successful from day one," said Petchara Pradit. "And we're successful now. We're still going strong. But, it's been a long time and I need some change in my life. Our lease was up and it was time. Our landlords want us to stay and I'll miss the people, but it's what we have to do."

Ron and Petchara opened their first restaurant in Amherst in 1989. Four years later, they opened Chiangmai and decided to concentrate on the Portsmouth restaurant in the city in which they live.

Chiangmai offered diners something new and exotic 16 years ago, and over the years, diners have become more sophisticated about the Thai cuisine.

"People thought Thai food was all spicy," Petchara said. "But we gave them all kinds of Thai food. Then, the people who came in for the Thai food were 25, 30 and up. Now we get younger people. Some dishes we had for people who didn't like to be as adventurous, but we have a lot of people who like the spicy food. After they ate our spicy food, they didn't get anything spicy anywhere else."

Pradit said the city has changed over the past 16 years.

"There's a new trend of food coming out here," she said. "The town is getting busier. Before, we got mostly older people, and now much younger."

She said they are not selling the business, but the equipment is for sale. They are telling their friends and spreading the word about their decision to close, and about their plans, which are still in the works. One thing those plans include is travel.

"We want to take the opportunity now," Petchara said. "The economy really didn't change anything for us, but our son is in college at (the University of New Hampshire) and life is easier. Ron has been here every day; we're here every day and we're still married! But, we have a lot of options now. We'll travel for sure. I haven't been able to travel all this time, only back to Thailand. I'd like to go to Europe."

She said she has some ideas about her next steps, but for now, they're her secret.

"It will be quite a change," she said. "I have something in mind, but I can't say it just yet. It's something I've wanted to do since college. And Ron will do it with me. We do everything together."

Customers who have gift certificates can use them until Nov. 10 and take the opportunity to say goodbye to the Pradits, who say they will miss their clientele immensely.

"It's been a long time, and I hope people will understand," Pradit said. "We need some change, and it's time for a new generation to come in. A lot of people tried to talk us out of leaving, the people who came here all these years and the new people. I'd like to thank the people in Portsmouth. We love them and we have a lot of people who have supported us all these years."

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